IT Infrastructure

1. What is IT Infrastructure?

IT Infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources, and services required for the existence, operation, and management of an enterprise IT environment. It is the backbone that supports business processes, applications, and services.

In simple terms: IT Infrastructure is everything that makes IT services work, including computers, networks, servers, and software.

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2. Components of IT Infrastructure

Component	Description
Hardware	Physical devices: servers, computers, data centers, switches, routers.
Software	Operating systems (Windows, Linux), enterprise applications, databases.
Network	Connectivity: Internet, intranet, VPNs, firewalls, switches, and routers.
Data Storage	Systems for storing data: databases, data warehouses, cloud storage.
Facilities	Data centers, cooling, and power systems to support hardware.
Cloud Services	Virtual infrastructure provided over the internet (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

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3. Types of IT Infrastructure

Type	Description
Traditional Infrastructure	On-premise physical servers and networks.
Cloud Infrastructure	Hosted on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Hybrid Infrastructure	Mix of on-premise and cloud systems.
Hyper-converged Infrastructure	Combines storage, compute, and networking in a single system.

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4. Importance of IT Infrastructure for Business Analysts

Reason	Why It Matters for BAs
Understand System Capabilities	Helps BAs know system limits and possibilities.
Requirement Gathering	Gather realistic and technically feasible requirements.
Solution Design	Collaborate with IT teams to design workable solutions.
Risk Identification	Identify potential risks related to IT systems.
Data Flow Understanding	Map data flows between systems and processes.

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5. Common IT Infrastructure in Organizations

System/Component	Purpose
ERP Systems	Manage business processes (SAP, Oracle ERP).
CRM Systems	Manage customer relationships (Salesforce, HubSpot).
Database Servers	Store and manage data (SQL Server, Oracle DB).
Web Servers	Host websites and web apps (Apache, Nginx, IIS).
Email and Collaboration Tools	Communication (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace).
Network Security Tools	Firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection.

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6. IT Infrastructure Diagram (Example)

pgsqlCopyEdit+---------------------+       +---------------------+
|     End Users       | <---> |   Network (LAN/WAN) |
+---------------------+       +---------------------+
                                         |
            ------------------------------------------------
           |                        |                        |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
|  Application     |     | Database Server  |     |  File Storage     |
|  Servers         |     | (SQL, NoSQL)     |     | (Cloud, NAS)      |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
           |                        |
        +---------------------------------------------+
        |               Security Layer                |
        +---------------------------------------------+

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7. Key Terms Every BA Should Know

Term	Explanation
Server	A powerful computer that provides services to others.
Firewall	Security system that controls incoming/outgoing network traffic.
Database	Organized collection of data.
Cloud Computing	Using internet-based services for computing and storage.
API (Application Programming Interface)	Set of rules for software to communicate.
Data Center	Facility housing computer systems and storage.
Virtual Machine (VM)	Emulated computer system that runs on physical hardware.
Load Balancer	Distributes network traffic across multiple servers.
Backup and Recovery	Protecting and restoring data in case of failure.

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8. Challenges in IT Infrastructure

Challenge	Impact
System Downtime	Interrupts business operations.
Data Security and Privacy	Risk of data breaches and compliance issues.
Scalability Issues	Difficulty in handling business growth.
Integration Complexity	Difficulty connecting different systems.
Cost Management	High costs of maintaining infrastructure.

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9. How BAs Work with IT Infrastructure Teams

Activity	BA's Role
Requirement Analysis	Ensure requirements align with IT capabilities.
System Design Workshops	Collaborate to define how systems will interact.
Testing Support	Help define test cases considering infrastructure.
Data Flow Mapping	Understand how data travels across systems.
Risk Assessments	Identify IT-related risks (security, downtime).

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10. Future Trends in IT Infrastructure

Trend	Impact on Business and BAs
Cloud Computing Expansion	Move from on-premise to cloud solutions.
Edge Computing	Data processing closer to users/devices.
Automation and AI in IT Ops	Intelligent systems managing infrastructure.
Zero Trust Security	More advanced security frameworks.
Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)	Efficient deployment of applications.

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✅ Summary Table

Aspect	Key Points
Definition	Foundation for IT services: hardware, software, networks.
Components	Hardware, Software, Network, Storage, Cloud.
Why Important for BAs	Helps align business needs with IT solutions.
Common Systems	ERP, CRM, Databases, Web Servers.
Key Terms	Servers, APIs, Cloud, Firewalls, VMs.
Challenges	Downtime, security, integration issues.
BA's Role with IT Teams	Requirement gathering, system design, risk analysis.
Trends	Cloud, AI, Edge, Zero Trust, Containers.